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Leap of luck: David Alaba celebrates his goal with Toni Kroos (r.)
Photo:
JORGE GUERRERO / AFP
Champions League winners Real Madrid have made a successful start to the new league season.
Four days after the Supercup triumph against Eintracht Frankfurt, the Spanish champions averted an embarrassment in the second round and won 2-1 (0-1) at newly promoted UD Almeria on Sunday evening thanks to a free kick from David Alaba.
The Belgian Largi Ramazani shocked the star ensemble from Madrid with the first attack (6th).
The outsider played freely and kept coming up with promising opportunities.
As expected, Real took control of the game, but Lucas Vázquez was only able to equalize in the 61st minute.
Only a few seconds after being substituted on, ex-Munich player Alaba converted a direct free kick from 20 meters into the winning goal with his first touch of the ball (75').
The defender had already been successful in the Supercup against Frankfurt.
Madrid thus presents a title defense at the mission.
Archrival Barcelona for new signing Robert Lewandowski did not get past a 0-0 draw against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday.
kjo/dpa
